UEFA doubles Champions League media in China with launch on WeChat
February 13 – UEFA has expanded its digital presence in China setting up a new Champions League platform on WeChat – the Chinese multi-purpose messaging and social media app.
Are you watching Jose? Scholes goes back to his roots with a winning start
February 13 – On the night that his former teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjær stumbled to his first defeat as Manchester United coach against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Paul Scholes passed his first managerial test with a 4-1 win for Oldham against Yeovil.
CAS clears Makudi of Thai election forgery and cuts his fine in half
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – After years of fighting FIFA’s ethics apparatus, former executive committee member and Thai strongman Worawi Makudi has succeeded in clearing his name and winning his fight against a five-year ban.
FIFAgate: Webb sentencing moved for 9th time, Burzaco moved to August
February 12 – Disgraced former Concacaf president and FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb’s sentencing has been delayed for a ninth time. His lawyers sentencing has now been moved back to September 10. Another defendant Alejandro Burzaco has had his sentencing moved back to August 21.
English goalkeeping legend Gordon Banks dies, aged 81
February 12 – England’s 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeping hero Gordon Banks has died aged 81.
Concacaf League expanded in tandem with Champions League qualification revamp
February 12 – Concacaf is to expand the Concacaf League from 16 to 22 clubs, including five additional Central American clubs and one Canadian Premier League club, from 2019 onwards. The new format will also shift the Champions League qualification with six teams from the competition entering the main tournament.
Champions League results are more predictable than ever before, says report
February 12 – With UEFA searching for ways to find a greater competitive balance between clubs for its competitions, the latest research report from the CIES Football Observatory shows “a clear trend towards less balance and more predictability.”
PSG expands esports teams in Asia with Indonesia-based ‘Mobile Legends’ squad
February 12 – Paris Saint-Germain is expanding its eSports footprint in south-east Asia with the launch of a team to play on the ‘Mobile Legends’ game platform.
Spinning a £5.5m tale: UK government lobbyist who wanted to take on Qatar
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – A political spin doctor who worked for Britain’s Conservative party attempted to scupper Qatar’s bid to stage the 2022 World Cup according to UK reports.
Mourinho back on centre-stage with his own TV show on RT
February 12 – Nice work if you can get it. Jose Mourinho may be out of a management job at club level but he is rarely out of the limelight. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United boss has landed a plum mega-million role with English-language Russian broadcaster RT.
Minute’s silence for Sala before European club games
February 12 – In memory of Emiliano Sala, the Argentine player tragically killed en route to join his new club Cardiff City, a minute’s silence will be observed at all Champions League and Europa League games this week.
Champions League to make live broadcast debut with Goal on Twitter in SE Asia
February 12 – European Champions League football will be broadcast via football website Goal’s Twitter account in six markets in Asia with a mix of live matches and highlights packages.
Bility says Ahmad had no authority to rule on AFCON hosting or betting deal
By Samindra Kunti
February 11 – CAF president Ahmad Ahmad’s reign has again come under attack from Executive Committee (ExCo) member Musa Bility who has accused him of violating the governing body’s statues.
Integrity: Prince Ali says FIFA must act urgently to reform statutes on sexual abuse
By Andrew Warshaw
February 11 – Pressure is mounting on FIFA and the Afghan authorities to do more to combat the grave situation of sexual abuse among the country’s women players.
Post World Cup injuries have already cost top 6 Premier League clubs £70m+
By Paul Nicholson
February 11 – With big decisions coming up next month on FIFA’s proposed expansion of the international football calendar and concern around the pressures they will bring, an analysis of player injuries since Russia 2018 shows Premier League clubs have seen a 44% increase in injuries to players who played in Russia.